Natalya Freidina is a driver of the Formula JK Racing Asia Series (formerly Formula BMW Pacific), one of the most authoritative and well-known racing series in the region. She has been a member of the MERITUS GP team since 2010, the only representative of Russia in the Formula JK Racing Asia Series. There will be 6 pilots in the Meritus GP team in the 2011 season. She is married with two children. Lives in Switzerland.

Since childhood, she has shown interest in auto racing in general and in new products in auto / motorcycle sports. She graduated from the school of driving skills Tsygankov, took an individual course of extreme driving at the school of Alexander Grachev (AvtoMotoPro). Then I got the idea to try myself in professional motorsport and started karting. In 2010, the age of the youngest daughter allowed her to continue her motorsport activities more professionally. Natalia Freidina became the driver of the Formula BMW championship, but 2010 was the last year for Formula BMW Europe, in this regard, it was decided to switch to the Formula BMW Pacific series. The choice fell on the MERITUS GP team, as it is the leader in the region.

Having shown excellent results in the first tests, she entered the top five most promising novice pilots of her team. In the Formula JK Racing Asia Series, he participates under the name Natalie, with the image of the Russian flag on the car.

At the first stage of the 2011 season at Sepang in Malaysia, she participated in the Formula1 support race.

Natalia Freidina is announced as a racer in Malaysia (April) and Singapore (September).

Photo by Jan Coomans

Why did this fragile and stylish woman, mother of two children, choose such a seemingly masculine profession?

How does she manage to find a balance between sports career and family, and live between Geneva and Moscow?

The participants of our Woman in Power project are interesting, strong, self-sufficient women doing what they love. But business in the generally accepted sense - "feminine", "habitual." Our today's heroine is in some way an exception to the rule, although she does not seem to consider herself as such. Her sports career looks very curious. Natalia started, like many others, with a passion for karting. In 2011, she made her debut in the Formula BMW series, for two seasons she was a member of the Meritus GP team and, then, started at the stage of the series in Malaysia, which was held as a "support race" of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. In 2012, Natalia received an offer to become a pilot of a new Russian team Team Russia in the FIA ​​GT, one of the most prestigious European Gran Turismo car racing championships. Natalya devotes all her “non-working” time to her family - her two teenage daughters and her husband, a businessman. Many years ago, in connection with the work of her husband, the family moved to Geneva, and now Natalia practically lives in two houses, except for her trips to competitions.

We talked with Natalia right after our shooting in the center of Moscow - interesting not only because of the personality of the main character, but also because the second participant in the photo session, if I may say so, was ... a luxurious, shiny retro Mercedes from 1968 , on which the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany once traveled. You can imagine our admiration! Together with Natalya, her teammate and friend Alexei Vasiliev brought him to the shooting especially for us - famous racer, a master of sports of international class ... Natalia posed as a professional model - working on the camera is not new for her. She is incredibly charming and elegant, and looks stylish even in a racing suit ...

Natasha, you started racing professionally when you were already a family lady, a mother of two children. How did your family react to the fact that your mother and wife chose such a job?

If we talk about children, then when I chose this activity not just as a hobby, but as a professional direction, it was interesting to observe the attitude of my daughters. It changed after I started working. There is more respect. When I began to travel a lot to competitions and to be at home less, the family began to value more the time spent together, communication. The attitude towards my work is also different.

- How do you feel about the fact that you are engaged in motorsport?

The older one, being more vulnerable, is always very worried when she comes to the races. I might even cry if, for example, I flew off the track. The youngest, on the contrary, consoles her, says: “Well, mom likes it? So, everything is ok. " My husband is more reserved, but he also supports me.

- Did you try yourself in another field before professional racing?

I have education - finance and credit. I worked as an economist at a large company called Mostransavto - funny, but it was also related to cars. Then she got married, went on the first decree, having worked for a year - on the second. And then we left Russia, as my husband had a contract in Europe. At first they left just for work, they did not plan to stay. It was very difficult to adapt at first, I even cried and packed my things ... Then, when the children grew up, a feeling of lack of self-realization came. It is quite difficult to get a job in a specialty abroad - you need to confirm diplomas, look for a company. There is a slightly different attitude to this. Europeans become mothers quite late, first they pursue a career, self-actualize, and then they give birth to three children and stay at home. And my husband, seeing my throwing, supported me when I suggested making my hobby (and all this time I continued to skate) to become a profession. Although, I think, he himself did not expect that everything would end this way. I thought he would play and quit. For a man, the main thing, in fact, does not matter what a woman does - runs a beauty salon, a bookstore, or participates in races.

But men still have the same attitude to this: a woman does not do this in order for it to become a serious business, she must be busy with something for her own moral peace. Then the husband will be calm. On the one hand, this is correct. Therefore, my husband supported me precisely from these considerations. But when he realized that I took it seriously ... It was not easy for him to accept, we even had serious conflicts and disputes for a year. Especially when I needed to leave for training.

- How did you get to such a serious level?

It all started with karting, then, already in Europe, we rode on weekends with friends.
Motorsport there is not so expensive, there are more tracks, there is insurance - in contrast to Russia. In Russia, all damage - and there are different cars - you pay yourself ... Then a purely male interest arose to try to drive professionally, since I liked it. Some familiar Russian guys from a Swiss company, with whom we traveled together before, supported me financially - I practically argued with them that I could. First there was Asia - I chose it for financial reasons: it is cheaper there than in Europe. She left for a year, or rather, every month she left for ten days. Flight, training, return flight - all this takes time. For a year I went to the Asian Formula. Then I realized that the path to Formula 1 is quite long and expensive, and I have to choose between family and racing.

- Who is involved in sponsorship issues? Managers?

I myself. Firstly, because of my education, I will be good at it. Secondly, I have a certain specificity: I am from Russia, but I live in Europe, if I hire a European manager, not all of them understand how to work with Russians and will not be able to make an interesting offer for a Russian sponsor. And vice versa. It's easier for me to do it myself, knowing their mentality and our specifics. And then, in Europe, investing in motorsport is profitable, not in the same way as in Russia - mainly because of taxes. Maybe if we have high level will be engaged in motorsport, there will be some progress. Let's see how Formula Sochi goes. Although I am skeptical about this - it is not enough just to build a track, you need infrastructure, you need to raise your pilots, engineers, mechanics, designers, and correctly assess the risks.

Among your other hobbies are diving, paragliding, you have participated in the "Big Races" and "Cruel Games". This is extreme again. Do not want something more calm ... say, to draw in the open air?

By the way, I finished art school... But it was rather my mother's dream - that I paint. I thought to be an architect. But dad said that this is not a job: either a lawyer or an economist ... As for my hobbies ... Everything in life should be balanced. For a long time, I was pretty static. And after the birth of children, some kind of activity began. By the way, it is largely thanks to them - when we go somewhere to rest, my husband and I are constantly looking for something interesting and active to keep them busy, so that there is a change of activity after sitting at school. So we chose skiing, diving. We began to travel to the Maldives - there is a great opportunity to go diving from the age of 5. Lazy rest is not for us.

- What's next - a new hobby, a new trip?

I recently learned that the Rally Monte Carlo team is hosting the Rally Princess. This is a very interesting project - only a women's rally, in beautiful historical cars, and the outfit of the participants must correspond to the time when this car was driving. The route is the most glamorous: Paris - Saint-Tropez. Five days, with stops at the most expensive hotels in the city through which they pass. Festivals, holidays, parties. There will be about 150 crews, girls from different countries, different professions. I really want to participate in the project, but I need to look for a company, one is not interested.

- Why do you think you are the only Russian racer?

I think because other women did not see this as an opportunity for self-realization. This requires a lot of manual labor. We all follow the path of least resistance. You have to love it, want to do it. And not everyone knows how to start. After all, many love extreme, the same businesswoman sometimes do such a thing, which for me is a real extreme. For me, organizing any serious business in Moscow is extreme. And to get behind the wheel of a car - no ... Many are still dependent on the opinions of others. Imagine: a woman comes home and joyfully announces to her family (husband, children, parents) that she will be engaged in motorsport (or other extreme view sports). I don’t think that everyone will happily rush to hug her with the words “how great, come on!”. And in my case, although I was into cars, my family was not ready for me to take it seriously.

- Have you acquired new qualities thanks to racing?

An energetic transformation has taken place. I became more balanced and tolerant of people. You spend a lot of emotions and adrenaline behind the wheel. There is a reassessment of life values. Seeing the risk all the time, the attitude towards some things is easier. The same applies to children - you start to trust them more, do not panic.

- How often do you have competitions?

I race almost all the time. April-May, August rest, then September-October, sometimes November. In whatever championship you go, the temperature of the air and asphalt is very important. Because if the asphalt is cold, the rubber does not warm up, and you drive as if on ice. The season lasts seven months. Training starts in March. On average, two stages per month. Thursday-Sunday.

- How do you prepare?

There is physical training, there is an acquaintance with the track. Although physically you, of course, prepare yourself constantly. In the beginning, it was physically difficult for me because of the temperature: during the race, you were wearing heat-resistant underwear, a combiner, a comforter and a helmet, that is, everything was hot and dense. And you sit in all this in a car that is lightened as much as possible so that the weight is minimal, and where there is nothing superfluous, including an air conditioner. And when you drive along a highway somewhere in Portugal, where it is 40 degrees outside and about 60 in the car, it can be very difficult. Over the weekend, in this case, I have minus four kilograms. Stress also affects. So you have to keep in shape against your will.

- Do you do any grooming procedures before the races?

The main thing is constant hydration of the skin. Including because you are often in this thermal underwear, in a helmet, you lose a lot of moisture. After that, just right to take a bath of moisturizing cream. I even use creams that are suitable for an older age, and after the races I do procedures with products for those over 40 for a week for greater effect.

- Tell us about a typical day for racer Natalia Freidina?

When there are no competitions, we get up at 6, because in European schools classes start already at seven. While the children are at school, I do some household chores, like all women, then shops and purchases. It gives me pleasure to walk around the butcher's shops, grocery stores, where everyone knows you and has already set aside a tasty morsel for you. This is a certain communication that gives pleasure ... After lunch I pick up the children from school. They are completely different in character - the older one is more obedient, calm, persevering, and makes music. And the younger, on the contrary, is athletic, more active. So everyone should be separated into their sections, cook dinner, then they go to bed - quite early, so I have time to take care of myself, to be with my husband.

- Do self-activities involve some kind of difficult care?

Yes, it takes a lot of time on yourself, because in Europe, unless you live in some big hotel, there is no such developed service with a large number of services as in Russia. Therefore, I sometimes come to Moscow just to put myself in order, to visit a salon or spa.

- Life in Europe is calmer, I suppose?

Life in a European city sets you up to a certain rhythm, when you need to take into account a lot and do a lot. For example, when shops close at six on weekdays and often don't work at all on weekends, you learn to plan your day clearly. But at the same time, everything here is calmer, not as tense as in Moscow. You get used to this, and it is already difficult to withstand the bustle of Moscow, especially with age and when you have a family and children.

- Do you usually have a rest with the whole family?

Yes, especially on weekends we love to relax together. In winter - skiing, in summer we go somewhere out of town. Geneva is convenient because it is in the center of Europe, and you can quickly get to Milan, Paris, the Cote d'Azur and other interesting places. We often try to take the children out so that they get more impressions, learn languages, learn to communicate. Yes, I can't imagine my vacation without my family. The eldest daughter is 12 years old, and during this time I have never gone to rest alone. Or with her husband, or with children. It seems to me that relaxing alone or with friends, leaving the family alone is not entirely correct and not fair in relation to them. I already leave for work often. I like too free time spend with loved ones.

Nothing boded that a girl from an ordinary Russian family would become the only world-class race car driver in our country. About unusual life path We will tell you about Natalia Freidina in this article.

Nothing boded ...

Natalya Freidina, the future race car driver, was born on August 21, 1978 in Samara. Natasha grew up as a "daddy's daughter", and her father was a big fan of vehicles and spent his days off in the car or in the garage. The girl got behind the wheel at thirteen years old and got her license as soon as she turned eighteen. Natalya knew the car like the back of her hand, but she could not even imagine that she would be a professional racer.

Love for technology and at the same time for the fine arts led the girl to the idea of ​​entering an architectural institute, but her father insisted: either jurisprudence or economics. Therefore, Freidina learned to be an economist (she graduated from the institute with honors) and began to work in her specialty. However, the work also turned out to be connected with cars: it was the Mostransavto company. Soon Natalia married a successful businessman, gave birth to two children and flew to Switzerland.

What you've read so far doesn't sound like the beginning of an athlete's biography, does it?

Natalya Freidina - race car driver

However, Natalia did not like the life of a housewife. It was rather difficult to get a job in Europe in my specialty. There were no problems with luxury cars in the family, and the young woman decided to try herself in auto racing: first at an amateur level.

Natalia Freidina's husband initially approved this decision. However, at the moment when Natalia wanted to act as a professional, disagreements began in the family ... However, the autolady came out victorious in this little war. The husband has resigned himself and now always supports his wife.

In 2010, the dream came true: it began sports biography Natalia Freidina. She became a Formula BMW Europe driver. Already in next year the girl moved to Formula BMW Pacific (later these races were called Formula JK Racing Asia Series). Natalia joined the strongest team, Meritus GP, and quickly ranked among the top five most promising newcomers. Since then, Freidina has been competing under the name Natalie. On her car the flag of Russia is depicted.

At the moment, Russian racer Natalya Freidina is the pilot of the TEAM RUSSIA FIA GT European Championship. She is the only woman from Russia to compete in serious car races. By the way, in 2016, Freidina supported the initiative to create a female version of Formula 1. True, it is not yet entirely clear whether the matter will go beyond talk: large investments will be needed ...

Motorsport is not only a competition, but also a business, because the driver has to work with sponsors. Attracting sponsors is usually the responsibility of dedicated managers. And here Freydina had problems. The only Russian racer is naturally looking for her sponsors in Russia, but she lives in Switzerland. Swiss agents knew little about Russian business and could not work effectively in our country.

Natalia was rescued by her education in economics. Now Freidina is her own manager!

After the competition ...

After a serious race, Freydina loses weight by two or three kilograms. So Natalia is slim and always in shape. But before, when a woman was not involved in motorsport, she had problems. After the birth of the child, Freidina had to lose 27 kilograms.

Motorsport is the same sport as everyone else: in order to compete and win, you need to have iron health. We have to experience significant overloads and participate in races in a tropical climate (the temperature in the cabin is up to +60 degrees).

Freidina trains six times a week, at least three times a week does aerobics. Aerobic exercise it usually alternates with power.

It is not only strong but also very beautiful girl... Natalya Freidina is already 38 years old, and her face remains youthful and fresh.

She knows how to combine the hard-to-match - a racing career and family life... In Switzerland, auto racing is prohibited, so for Freudina any competition is going abroad. Natalia is always on the road, but still tries not to leave home for more than 10 days. All the time spent in Geneva is dedicated to family and children. The racer has two charming daughters growing up. The eldest daughter is fond of singing and music, and the youngest, perhaps, will follow in her mother's footsteps: she is also interested in car competitions.

Natalya Freidina hopes that when the little racer grows up, women will already take part in Formula 1.

Freidina, Natalia

Natalia Freidina
Occupation:	race car driver
Date of Birth:	Since childhood, she has shown interest in auto racing in general and in new products in auto / motorcycle sports. She graduated from the school of driving skills Tsygankov, took an individual course of extreme driving at the school of Alexander Grachev (AvtoMotoPro). Then I got the idea to try myself in professional motorsport and started karting. In 2010, the age of the youngest daughter allowed her to continue her motorsport activities more professionally. Natalia Freidina became the driver of the Formula BMW championship, but 2010 was the last year for Formula BMW Europe, in this regard, it was decided to switch to the Formula BMW Pacific series. The choice fell on the Meritus GP team, as it is the leader in the region. Having shown excellent results in the first tests, she entered the top five most promising novice pilots of her team. In the Formula JK Racing Asia Series, he participates under the name Natalie, with the image of the Russian flag on the car. At the first stage of the 2011 season at Sepang in Malaysia, she participated in the Formula1 support race. Links Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. See what "Freidina, Natalya" is in other dictionaries: This term has other meanings, see Cruel Intentions. Cruel Intentions Genre TV game Production of Krasny Kvadrat LLC Presenter (s) Dmitry Dibrov, Kirill Nabutov, Yana Churikova Composer ... Wikipedia Wikipedia has articles about other people with this surname, see Mandelstam. Nadezhda Mandelstam Birth name: Nadezhda Yakovlevna Khazina Date of birth: October 30, 1899 (1899 10 30) Place of birth: Saratov ... Wikipedia SIN, Russia, Ladya (film studio named after M. Gorky) / Pyramid, 1992, color, 84 min. Crime tragicomedy. Sergei Sergeevich, a retired KGB colonel, has long been retired, but vigorous and fit. Yes, and does not complain about life: everything is there, even a mistress ... ... Encyclopedia of Cinema Championship, Championat, Championship.com URL: www.championat.com Commercial: Yes Site type: Sports site ... Wikipedia Nico Rosberg at the wheel of the Williams team car (Mokhovaya St.) ... Wikipedia

— When did you develop an interest in cars and who instilled it in you?

— I got a conscious love for cars when I had already learned how to drive them. I got behind the wheel for the first time at the age of 14. But the craving for technology was instilled in me long before that, in childhood. For this we must thank father and grandfather - both were engineers.

— How did it happen that you got seriously involved in racing when you had already given birth to two daughters and were married?

— The desire was always there, but at first my parents did not support my aspirations. It was a strange hobby for a girl, and there was no way to consider it as a profession at all. Marrying and having children helped me to believe in myself and stop looking back at others. Sometimes it happens: I was at the right time in the right place... My husband and I moved to live in Switzerland, and in Europe excellent tracks, modern cars and friends were waiting for me, ready to support financially. Serious partners and sponsors appeared only later.

— How did your husband react to your choice? Didn't try to discourage?

— When my husband realized that this was not just a hobby, it was already too late. Of course, it was not easy. I had to leave often and for a long time. The rhythm of life of the whole family has changed. Now everything is fine, my husband and daughters are proud of me, they support me very much. I hope my experience will serve as a worthy example for my children - you need to go your own way and not turn to anyone.

— In Russia, and not in Switzerland, could you even start to travel professionally?

— There is nowhere to start in Russia. Do you know at least one boy or girl "from the people" who have achieved success in motorsport? There is no such. Development is about accessibility and interest. Previously, there was a state program DOSAAF - children studied for free. And now only wealthy families can afford to have their children go in for motorsport.

— How is your season scheduled? How long do the training sessions and the racing sessions themselves take?

— Now I compete in the GT class (Gran Turismo) circuit races. The season usually starts in March and ends in October. Only 5-8 races. I fly on racing weekends, which are three days long - from Friday to Sunday. This is free practice, qualification and the race itself. You can relax in the off-season. Although I love active image life. When there are no races, they are replaced by skiing, diving, extreme travel in Russia.

Natalia Freidina

from the hero's personal archives

— Did you experience a strong sense of dread on the track? And have you had any accidents?

— There is always fear. Only fools are not afraid. The main thing is to be able to use and direct fear correctly. Do not panic, do not lose control of the situation. There were, of course, accidents. You cannot feel the line without crossing it. In one of the accidents, I almost lost left hand... Then it took me a year to recover my motor abilities.

— How difficult is motorsport for a woman physically - overload, high temperature in a racing suit, etc.?

— A woman is more resilient by nature. In Malaysia, I had moments when the temperature in the car reached 53 degrees Celsius. In the first minutes you ride only on reflexes, the feeling of reality disappears. Then the body gets used to the temperature. It was very hard. For those wishing to reduce weight, a note: I lose up to 6 kg over a racing weekend.

— How does your typical day go when you are not exercising? What are the usual mom and wife routines on your schedule?

— Mom and wife are more serious work than racing. I get up very early at 6:30 in the morning. At 7:15 am I accompany the children to school. Then the usual household chores: walking the dogs, feeding three cats. Then I myself have breakfast and go to workout in the gym. I spend lunch with my husband - these are those rare moments when we can talk together. After lunch I buy groceries and have dinner. I like to cook. In the evening, when the whole family is assembled, we have dinner in the living room with a full table setting. We have two daughters, and it is important for me to instill good manners in them. Children need to be shown on personal example... At the table, everyone is prohibited from using phones and other gadgets. This is the time for communication between children and parents.

press service

— How many professional racers are there in the world and in Russia today? And why, in your opinion, races are considered masculine sports?

— There are about a thousand professional racers in the world. Girls compete in all classes: karting, rallying, circuit races, rally-raids. Everywhere except Formula 1... There are few female racers in Russia, I know only five. In my opinion, motorsport is just beginning to develop in our country. We don't have an automobile culture. All over the world, technical sports have attracted an increasing number of women for a long time. To participate in races, you no longer need this physical strength and endurance as before. With advances in technology, it becomes easier and safer to operate the machine.

— It turns out that in the world of auto racing there are already enough women today. But how do men perceive them?

— Women and cars are a very striking combination. Of course, most of the male rivals are dismissive of this. But races have their own rules - the result shows who is who. There will be more and more women in motorsport in the near future. Many organizers are already thinking about creating only women's championships... After all, this is, among other things, an excellent marketing platform.

— Natalya, what driving style do you practice in Everyday life and how often do you receive fines?

— I drive very safely, but quite aggressively. All my cars are speed provocateurs. But the city is not a place to race. And I understand that not every driver has a reaction time comparable to mine. Although the strategy can be used not only on race track but also on the roads common use... Of the rules road traffic I can only neglect the exit to the bus lane - patience is not enough.